One day I shared a 'chemo session'

With a gentleman and a nurse's station.

We two patients were privileged to have beds

Facing each other across the small room.

The chap had his wife by his side as I had my husband

Both carers calm and solicitous, totally supportive.

 

His wife set up a small station by her chair

Holding a tray of assorted 'goodies' and drinks

Either specified for her husband by his doctor

Or just 'wanted' by him

With a kind of 'chemo craving'.

There were little pots and crunchy bags,

Napkins and some small cutlery.

She sat preparing treats with much grace

And generosity of 'yummy stuff',

Passing them carefully to her husband

Who received each offering with a smile

And a quiet 'Thank you.'

Watching this little scene was heart-warming.

 

And then, as he crunched into a cream cracker,

A flush of pure pleasure washed across his cheeks.

It was a lovely blush, and I chuckled, unrestrained.

He grinned, 'I haven't had this much butter on a cracker

Since I was a kid!'

 

'OH! I KNOW what you MEAN!'

It jumped out of my mouth, right from my belly!

And then, we were all laughing -

As the nurse returned to her desk.

'Well! This is a jolly corner of the ward!'

And she laughed too, because laughter is infectious.

It may have been exactly what she needed too

In her corner of the Christie, that afternoon.

I think we felt better, each of us

And the whole day seemed a little brighter.

 

Thinking back, Laughter is 'whole-istic' medicine, is it not?

Or 'holistic', if you prefer.

With - maybe – a wee touch of MAGIC?

Oh, don't wince, or cringe!

'Magic' defies definition, any time, anywhere.

 

All this nonsense from a Chemo Session

With total strangers and a man's pleasing blush!

But, like 'Magic', 'Nonsense' defies definition too!

It can often make a lot of sense.

Depends on how you look at it.

 

Cynthia Buell Thomas, April, 2019